All-school play gives Shakespeare with a twist

When thinking of the majesty of theater, none offer more prestige than the works of William Shakespeare. From classic tragedies like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Othello” and “Macbeth,” to comedies such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare’s plays have a legacy spanning centuries.

But, times change. Slang back then is different all these centuries later. The stuffy ideals of the stage then is different compared to a more robust and pop culture world. For some, a translation to plain ol’ English is needed just to study the material appropriately. Some audiences might decry the works and say “I hate Shakespeare!” Creston Schools has a solution.

This weekend, Creston will be presenting the all-school show “I Hate Shakespeare” in the high school auditorium. Audiences can view the show at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 30. Tickets are available for $6 each online through Bound or at the door, card only. An intermission will be available at the halfway point of the 90-minute show.

“I Hate Shakespeare” is a fourth-wall breaking comedy which will give audiences a crash course in Shakespearean etymology. Audiences shouldn’t worry if they don’t know Iago from Cassio, the show will provide everything they need to know and modern references to keep these stories up-to-date.

From wacky costumes, talking animals, zombies and a visit from Jerry Springer to sort out these complicated character dynamics, “I Hate Shakespeare” is Shakespeare for today. It might even give audiences some new appreciation for some timeless classics.

Director Laura Granger appreciates the show for how it brings the intended audience of Shakespeare productions, the average person, back to the forefront. The language used in the original works, despite being difficult today, was what helped drive audiences across Europe to Shakespeare.

“Society was not the hoity-toity language we think of Shakespeare using now,” Granger said. “It was the common slang of the time period. It was low-brow.”

The original script for “I Hate Shakespeare” calls for anywhere between five and 43 actors playing a wide range of parts. For Granger, part of the balance of using the cast she has is assigning them in roles they can thrive in, something she wasn’t worried about.

“I know that I got talented individuals who can play different characters and different voices,” Granger said. “They have a lot of fun ad-libbing when needed and rolling with it. I wanted the play to embrace that.”

Granger also mentioned many actors in the cast are looking to pursue performance outside of their high school experience, so giving these actors a chance with Shakespearean characters, even in a streamlined version, is valuable to them.

The show was written by Steph DeFerie, who was part of a video call with the cast of Creston’s show last Thursday to talk about her creative process. DeFerie accepted and gave her blessing to a few changes requested by the students. On a call projected against a classroom wall, DeFerie would laugh and rock in her chair at the students’ suggestions.

“I wish I thought of that,” DeFerie said for one suggestion.

For these drama students, they begin their year with the musical during the fall, speech competitions in the winter. With the all-school play wrapping up a marathon of performances, it can be a quick turnaround for them.

“The kids have to work really hard to get this stuff down, all while they’re juggling large-group speech, individual speech and their other activities,” Granger said.

Despite the chaos at the start of productions and each individual rehearsal, Granger says the satisfaction from honing and focusing the show into a breathing performance is unlike anything else.

“There’s a million things to do, so many people and questions, all hands on deck,” Granger said. “Each play is different - I don’t know what to expect... I’m excited.”

“I Hate Shakespeare” is directed by Laura Granger.

Cast list, alphabetical order: Carson Beer - Hamlet, Bodyguard; Alexis Bendt - Juliet, Sheila, Fleance; Kylor Budrow - Ophelia/Laertes, Bob Jerry Springer, Director; Josh Bunz - Ted, Othello, Paris, Macduff; Kobie Chuong - Tech Crew; Lehdyn Dresback - Zombie, Spirit, Voice, Tech Crew; Dylan Dornack - Tech Crew; Janea Green-Ngang - Zombie, Voice, Tech Crew; Vanessa Hill - Duncan, Queen, Voice; Olivia Hulbert-Harris - Tech Crew; Savannah Jaques - Zombie, Voice, Tech Crew; Chaylee Needham - Tech Crew; Khai Nguyen - Shakespeare, Claudius/Polonius, Richard III, TV Man, Murderer; Mahi Patel - Jill Lange, Lady Macbeth, Trad. Juliet, British Historian, Voice; Summer Prentice - Witch, Puppets 1-2, Emcee, Voice; Lydia Preston - Cheerleader, Messenger, Zombie, Voice, Tech Crew; Noah Richardson - Macbeth, Romeo, Iago, Cow; Trinitie Smith - Desdemona, Modern Juliet, Antony; Lizzy Sprague - Banquo, Miss Purdie, Narrator, Puck, Voice; Christian White - Unhappy Person, Ghost, Bodyguard; Drake Wilson - Burbage, Dick, Timon; Brodie Wiltermood - Tech Crew; Michael Wofford - Zombie, Voice, Tech Crew.